GRAND RAPIDS, MI — In November, the state House passed a bill that would let breweries operate a second retail location — a rule change that, if signed into law, would allow Founders Brewing Co. to open another taproom.

Given the popularity of the Grand Rapids brewery, which has grown into a sizable beer maker with a devoted national following in the past 16 years, the potential change in state liquor code would seem like a ripe business opportunity.

Potential notwithstanding, company leaders say not to hold your breath waiting for another Founders taproom.

“Looking into the future, it’s not what we’re planning on,” said CEO Mike Stevens.

Stevens said a desire for tighter brand control not only underpins the choice to forgo — for now — satellite retail locations, but was also a deciding factor in scuttling a deal for a Founders pub at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Bell’s Brewery opened at the airport instead this fall, prompting many Grand Rapidians to wonder what kept the hometown brewery out of the local airport.

“We didn’t go into the airport because we have a very strong hold on our culture and personality, and the way our brand image is portrayed,” said Stevens. “I appreciate the airport folks. We sat and talked with them. At the end of the day it wasn’t our people running that location.”

HMSHost, a Maryland-based company, operates the Bell’s airport pub.

“We don’t feel comfortable at this point to allow our brand to be explained, sold or taken care of by another company,” said Stevens.

Stevens said although Founders is not likely to take advantage of the eased restrictions contained in the legislative package — which passed the state House on Nov. 14 and moved to the Senate — the company is generally supportive of it.

There is significant bipartisan support for the six bills that relax restrictions on breweries and brewpubs and enact more flexible liquor licensing rules.

Founders completed a $26 million expansion of its brewhouse and taproom this year. The company distributes in 26 states and projects to hit roughly 200,000 barrels of production output in 2014. The company will have made 115,000 barrels by the end of 2013, Stevens said.

Founders is one of two craft breweries in Michigan that make more than 30,000 barrels per year, sizing them out of the category of “microbrewer” as defined by state liquor code. The other is Bell’s.

Founders' top selling beer is All Day IPA, which Stevens said has become a brand leader in the category of session ales, or lower gravity full-flavor beers.

“We’re putting a lot of our capital, resources, time and effort into growing our manufacturing facility, enhancing it, making it more efficient,” he said.